UNIONISTS are keen to welcome measures in the amended Employment Relations Act (ERA) that specifically aims to clamp down on wage theft.
Finance Sector Managerial Staff Association general secretary Sailesh Naidu said as a trade unionist, he was personally involved with the amendment process.
“The union fully supports the amendments, which have been on the table for some time,” he said.
“I’m also a member of the Employment Advisory Board, where there has been a lot of discussion, and we are hopeful that the Bill, the draft Bill, which is circulated, will go to Parliament soon for the approval of the legislators.
“One of the important things under discussion at that moment, is wage theft in the spotlight in the media and discussions. Since our banks come from our neighboring countries, New Zealand, they have very stringent rules and laws about the wage theft.
“We support that the wage theft should be taken very seriously in terms of the fines which have been proposed in the legislation.”
Yesterday, the union also had its annual general meeting in Suva, where issues ranging from membership, skills shortage and work conditions were discussed.
National president Anil Kumar said there was a mass exodus of skilled workers over the past two years, and the banking sector was not spared.
“While this has resulted in improved perks and benefits for some bankers, it has also created gaps in customer-facing roles within the banking industry,” he said.
“On the global front, the ongoing trade war between the United States and its key trading partners – Canada, Mexico, China, and Europe – may pose economic challenges for our region.
“If China is significantly affected, it is likely that Australia and New Zealand, our closest trading partners, will also feel the impact.
“However, there is also a possibility that these larger economies might extend favourable trade opportunities to smaller nations like Fiji to help bridge the economic gaps caused by these disruptions.”
